Our Visit to London, Theatre, Restuarants, Pageantry and Royals. - Simply Fantastic.

We drove from Oxford to Heathrow dropped the car off and were transferred to our hotel in Westminster, named “The Westminster” a Hilton Luxury Hotel. After 45 minutes from Heathrow we arrived, checked in and then unpacked.

Then Ken went for a long walk had a beer and thought how fortunate we are to be able to do this.

After walking visiting the Tate Gallery about 5 minutes from us, then a walk along the Thames River, he returned to “the Westminster”, booked a Taxi for 6.30pm to take us to the theatre for a night of Musicals with “Grease”. Simply a fantastic night out with several thousand p[eople standing and cheering and singing. We have never seen a show and night like it. Then we were lucky enough to hail a Taxi to take us back to the hotel. The crowds were simply amazing, public transport stretched, and a fare of 30 pounds obscene, but this is London.

An exceptional day, we climb into bed at 11.15pm. We experienced real difficulty getting a cab and it was quite the a walk to the underground. Very tired we sleep through until 7.45 am.

We awake to a near perfect day, with a cool breeze. We determine after a great breakfast that we will visit Buckingham Palace assuming that today is the first day of the Changing of The Guard resuming following the Queen’s Funeral and all of the arrangements which accompanied this. Today was our supposed visit to the Palace but that excursion was cancelled after all our planning.

Just to complicate matters we get off the Hop on Bus and walk in the wrong direction, then have to get a taxi to the Palace area, which remains locked off.

We stay in close prximity and find that the Changing of the Guard has in fact recommenced with a later time of !1.30 am today. Fortunate and very much a Serendipity but we take it all in, watch the Bands, Soldiers and Guardsmen. simply wonderful.

We walk from the Palace forecourt area and walk back along St James Park then across to the Horseguards at Whitehall in Westminster, We did this some 30 years ago.

Simply amazing London.

Then to Lunch and then another route of the Hop on Hop off the bus which we leave after crossing Tower Bridge and then passed the Tower of London. Then a cruise on the Thames following walking around the Tower of London. Thoroughly enjoyed the Cruise and we took in Tower bridge, departed the Boat and then walked past the Houses of Parliament at the Palace of Westminster, and then walked the 300 meters to our Hotel … The Westminster. We had a great day.

This evening we have dinner in the City near the Theatre where we are to see the Phantom of the Opera production. So we change after a rest, then catch a Taxi and it is a little easier as the traffic is not as heavy. We depart at Trafalgar Square , then walk around this iconic area, find the Theatre and then find a restaurant where we enjoy a pizza.

The show is just amazing. We have seen The Phanton of The Opera in a couple of cities, but we both felt that this was just a wonderful production with outstanding theatre of great costumes, wonderful singing and dancing. We feel very special. A great couple of days.

Again after the show we decided not to go for supper and instead to hail a Taxi. We walk some 300 metres away from the Theatre back toward Traqfalgar Square and are fortunate to see and hail a Taxi. We are home in our hotel by 11.20.pm.

Tomorrow we have a late check out and will then transfer to Heathrow where we will stay for the night in one of th Hotels within the Terminal 2 and 3 precincts.. Unfortunately, this was boked and arranged prior to the change in our flight arrangements.

It is timely and pertinent as over the whole 45 days we have had outstanding weather , until the morning of departure with a strong cold front . As we are picked up by Blacklane at 2.15pm we are suddenly aware of a major storm approaching. fortunately, we get our luggage stored in the trunk of the vehicle and then proceed to Heathrow terminal 3 through a major electrical storm.

However, it all works well. We arrive at the Hilton Garden Inn and are checked in by 3.45 pm. We are in a suite overlooking the runways and opposite Terminal 2 and find that we have a walk of some 20 minute underground to the Terminal 3 tomorrow.

The hotel is comfortable., food is good at the Restaurant. The view from our room is terrific.